Electrical connecting device for insulated wires

ABSTRACT

Insulated electrical connector comprises a metallic connecting device having opposed U-shaped sections integral with each other. The opposed edges of the U-shaped sections comprise wire receiving slots. The metallic connecting device is contained in a plastic housing open at one end and having an axial slit in alignment with the slots. An electrical and mechanical connection to a wire is made by passing the wire laterally of its axis through the slit and inserting the wire into the slots.



1. A stamped and formed connecting device for forming electrical and mechanical connections with a wire comprising: a substantially flat web having spaced-apart side edges, a pair of U-shaped members, each of said members having a bight and sides, said U-shaped members being in opposed facing relationship on one side of said web with said bight of each of said members being integral with one of said side edges of said web and with the axes of said U-shaped members extending substantially normally of said web, the corresponding edges of said sides of said U-shaped members being opposed and spaced apart by a distance which is less than the diameter of said wire, said corresponding edges constituting the edges of aligned wire-receiving slots whereby, upon positioning said wire with its axis extending in alignment with said wire-receiving slots and upon movement of said wire laterally of its axis towards said web and into said slots, said wire is electrically and mechanically connected to said connecting device.
 2. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opposed edges of said U-shaped members have serrations.
 3. A connecting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said serrations on each of said edges comprise a plurality of teeth, each of said teeth having one side extending away from its respective edge and sloping towards said web, and each tooth having another side which extends substantialy perpendicularly of its respective edge.
 4. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3 including a tubular housing of polymeric insulating material completely surrounding said connecting device, said housing being open at one end thereof and having an axial slit on one side, said slit being in alignment with said aligned slots to permit passage of said wire into said housing and into said slots.
 5. A connecting device as set forth in claim 3 including a second pair of U-shaped members on said web which are spaced from, said pair of U-shaped members, said connecting device being adapted to connect two wires which extend axially towards each other. 